A snippet from the NY Times article:
At several points in their trek, the athletes stopped near sparsely populated wells to talk with villagers and nomads about the difficulties they face finding water. That marked another goal of the run -- raising awareness for the clean water nonprofit group H2O Africa.
''We have seen firsthand the need for clean water, which we take for granted in North America. It's such a foundation for any community,'' Zahab said during day 108's lunch break. The three plan to fund-raise for the group after they return home and finish recuperating.
''It started off as a huge motivator, especially as we passed through countries where the water wasn't clean,'' Engle said.
Look at that map. 100 degree days for 3+ months?!? These guys are seriously extreme.
SD
Is Charlie Engle related to Chuck Engle (aka Marathon Junkie)?
ReplyDeleteI don't think so. They are both pretty crazy though. Charlie has done many extreme races (won the Gobi March last year and placed 3rd at Badwater twice, for example), and I've often wondered if they both come from some genetically mutated strain of human.
ReplyDeleteSD
yeah so very impressive. I've been watching their progress. I to compare ultra endurance feats but WOW is all I can say about this one!
ReplyDeleteNo charlie Engle is not related to Chuck Engle aka Marathon Junkie... speaking of which.... has anyone heard... where's MJ in 2007?
ReplyDeleteIs there any way you might be able to help spread the word about this event?
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Emma Roche
416-533-6724 ex 270
Royal St. George's College Parent's Guild Speaker Series presents
Geoff Green and Ray Zahab
“Icebergs to Sand Dunes – Our Changing Planet”
January 28th, 2008
Doors open at 6:30pm ~ Lecture begins at 7:00pm
Tickets are $25 ~ General Admission
At the Bloor Cinema ~ 506 Bloor Street West
TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE LINK BELOW
https://www.netdirectories.com/~rsgc/oler2.cgi?1051
“From Icebergs to Sand Dunes” explores the effects of Climate Change on two desert biomes. Together Canadian adventurers Geoff Green and Ray Zahab take the audience on a fascinating and inspiring journey from the Earth’s Polar Regions to the Sahara Desert. During the presentation, Geoff and Ray will weave together stories of adventure, profound observations of and lessons from Mother Nature, and their unique perspective into the human condition.
Proceeds “From Icebergs to Sand Dunes” will be given to The Students on Ice Polar Education Foundation and ONE X ONE.
www.studentsonice.com
www.rayzahab.com
www.rsgc.on.ca
Geoff Green is a Canadian adventurer, environmentalist, and educator who founded the award winning educational organization, Students on Ice. Geoff Green has been leading expeditions and adventures from pole to pole for the past fifteen years and is a veteran of 73 Antarctic expeditions and 30 Arctic expeditions. In 2005, he received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from the U.S. Congress for his work with youth and the environment. He was also voted one of Canada’s “Top 40 under 40 - an annual national prize event saluting Canada’s top young leaders. In 2004, Outpost Magazine chose Geoff as one of the “Top 5 Canadian Explorers” to watch. Most recently, Geoff was awarded the Citation of Merit for outstanding feats of exploration and service by the prestigious Explorers Club in New York City.
Ray Zahab is the winner of some of the world’s most difficult and challenging ultra-distance foot races. Ray is motivated by challenge, distance and discovery. It was not until the late nineties that Ray competed in his first adventure race, started rock and ice climbing, and left a pack-a-day smoking habit behind him. That began something new for Ray and this dramatic awakening from a lifestyle of unhealthy choices uncovered a deep passion for progressive challenge. On November 1, 2006 Ray and two other runners set out on an epic expedition to cross the Sahara Desert by foot. One hundred and eleven days after leaving the coast of Senegal they made history by dipping their toes into the Red Sea and raising the bar of all that we consider possible. The epic expedition had the trio running an average of 70km’s a day, without a single day of rest. Having dream become reality, Ray has become a unique voice of inspiration and motivation. He has pushed the limits of endurance beyond what has ever been done before. The documentary film about the expedition, Running The Sahara, will be released in 2008 to raise awareness of the water crisis in Africa.